August 18, 2026: Ver. 1.3.11 (Mac & Win)
• Added three new star cats.
• Added a "UFO" effect.
Official Desktop App
Cat Gatekeeper
Set a work timer
The cat takes over your screen when it is time for a break
10,000+ total downloads
WHAT'S NEW
Past updates
August 5, 2026: Ver. 1.3.9 (Mac & Win)
• Added a third star cat.
• Added a "Rainbow" motion for "Mine" cats.
• Improved star cat previews.
• "World" cats you haven't met yet now appear first.
• Fixed display and data-saving issues and improved stability.
August 1, 2026: Ver. 1.3.7 (Mac) / Ver. 1.3.6 (Win)
• Added support for Intel-based Macs.
• Added a new motion, "Space Cat."
• Added a button to play and preview motions.
• Newly added "World" cats now show up sooner.
July 29, 2026: Update Notes
• Added a new star cat.
July 10, 2026: Update Notes
• "World" cats have arrived! Cats from users around the world now come tell you it's break time.
• Added menu bar tray mode. You can close the window and keep using the app from the menu bar.
June 20, 2026: Update Notes
• You can now add your favorite photos.
• You can now remove the background from added photos.
• Motion features have been added.
• The menu screen display and behavior have been improved.
• Fixed an issue where the Dock icon could become unstable during breaks on Mac.
• Fixed an issue where the menu might not appear after ending a paused countdown on Mac.
May 24, 2026: Desktop app released!
Cat Gatekeeper Desktop is now available for both Windows and Mac.
May 1, 2026: Official website launched
The official Cat Gatekeeper website is now available.
FEATURES
New Features
When it is time for a break, cats appear with charming motion to firmly stop your work. Add your favorite photos or remove backgrounds to create your ideal interruption scene.
Cats appear at break time
When it is time to rest, a cat appears on your desktop.
Add a photo
Register your favorite photo as My Cat.
Remove the background
Remove the background from your photo so it blends naturally into the screen.
Choose effects
Add your favorite effect to a photo and show it during breaks.
New Cats
New cats
Which one?
HOW TO
Set the timer
Choose your work and break time.
Start working
Keep the timer on screen,
or tuck it into the menu bar or system tray.
Take the break
When time is up,
the cat appears with a break reminder.
PRIVACY
No ads
No tracking tools are used
Local timer
Your timer settings stay on your device
No account
No login is required to use the app
Q&A
Is this the same as the browser extension?
No. The browser extension helps prevent overuse of selected websites, while the desktop app is a timer that encourages breaks from computer work as a whole.
Does the app track what I do?
No. It does not track your browsing history, app usage, keystrokes, or screen contents. It only follows the work and break times you set.
Which platforms are supported?
It works on macOS and Windows. The macOS version supports both Apple silicon and Intel-based Macs.
Can I change the timer length?
Yes. You can change both the time before the cat appears and the break time from the app menu.
The cat does not appear.
Set your work time and break time, then start the countdown. When the countdown reaches 0 and break time begins, the cat will appear on your screen.
Does it need an internet connection?
The basic features work offline. An internet connection is required to download World Cats and other additional content, view update information, or open the official website.
Are photos I add sent anywhere?
Photos added to My Cat are processed and stored on your device and are not sent anywhere.
Can I remove the background from a photo?
Yes. Turn on Remove Background when adding a photo to process it on your device. Photos with simple backgrounds work best.
Can I add effects to a photo?
Yes. You can add movement and visual effects to photos in My Cat, and change them later from the My Cat list.
Can I use the app after closing the window?
Yes. Turn on the tray option in Settings to use the app from the menu bar on macOS or the system tray on Windows after closing the window.
Can I dismiss the cat?
Yes. You can dismiss it from the app menu, or by pressing the dismiss button that appears in the bottom-right corner of the screen when the cat appears.
Are the cats real?
The cats in the videos are ideal cats created with the help of AI and carefully adjusted one by one to become the ultimate lovable distractions. Please treat them kindly as little gatekeepers for your desk.
Can I use the assets in the app?
You are very welcome to include screenshots or screen recordings in posts introducing Cat Gatekeeper or sharing your impressions. However, please do not extract, reuse, or redistribute image or video assets included in the app.
The update is not reflected.
Automatic updates may be turned off, or the store may still be rolling out the latest version. Open the Cat Gatekeeper page in your app store and check whether an update is available.
Will new cats be added?
Yes. More cats are planned for future updates.
FOLLOW
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